Albert b



(No Model.)

A. B. SOHOPIELD.

'GAN OPENER.

NO.'4Z1,197. Patented Feb. 11,1890.

dag/WW w w z g UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT B. SCI'IOFIELD, OF NEWV YORK, N. Y.

CAN=OPENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 421,197, dated February 11, 1890.

Application filed August 23, 1889. Serial No. 821,711. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT B. SCHOFIELD, of the city, county, and State of NewYork, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Can-Openers, of which the following is a specification.

My improvement relates to instruments for opening sealed metal cans; and the object of the improvement is to open the can from the side, so as to entirely remove, if desired, either end of the can.

I will describe in detail a can-opener embodying my improvement, and then point out the novel features in claims.

In the accompanying draWings,Figure l is a side elevation of a can-opener embodying my improvement. Fig. 2 is a similar View looking from the other side of the can-opener. Fig. 3 is an end view of the same.

Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures.

A designates a handle, represented as having a lip B projecting at right angles to the direction of the length thereof. This lip may be formed integral With the handle, or it may be secured thereon in any desired manner.

0 designates a knife, by which an incision is cut in the can to open the latter. This knife has a cutting edge 0 upon its inner edge. It is to be observed that this cutting-edge in this example is longitudinally curved.

O designates a gripper. This gripper has a serrated inner edge, which is represented as longitudinally curved. The construction is such that the distance between the knife 13 and the gripper O is gradually lessened from their outer ends to their inner ends.

As shown, the knife 0 and gripper G are made of one piece and are secured upon the handle A, upon the side of the latter which is opposite the lip B, and also extend widthwise at right angles to the direction of the length of the handle A.

I11 using this opener it is taken in the hand in the position shown in Fig. 2. The knife 0 is then forced through the metal of the can near an end of the latter and upon the side of the can. The lip B will then extend over the end of the can. In this position a rocking movement is given to the can-0pener. The gripper O grips the metal upon the exterior of the can and prevents the opener from slipping while the knife cuts along in the metal. By moving the instrument along as fast as the cut is made the end of the can may very quickly be separated from the body.

It is important that the cutting-edge of the knife, and preferable that the serrated edge of the gripper, should be longitudinally curved, as described, for the reason that thereby a constant bearing is had upon the metal of the can, which effectually prevents slipping of the opener when in use. At no time during the operation of cutting is there any looseness or failure of perfect contact between the knife and the gripper and the metal. of the can.

hat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a can-opener, the combination, with a single handle adapted to bear on the exterior of a can, of a knife having a cuttingedge and a gripper having a serrated inner edge, both said knife and gripper being rigidly connected to the handle, substantially as specified.

2. In a can-opener, the combination, With a single handle, of a lip on said handle adapted to extend over the end of a can, a knife having a longitudinally curved cutting-edge, and a gripper having a serrated inner edge, both said knife and gripper being rigidly connected to the handle, substantially as specified.

ALBERT 1;. souormitn Witnesses:

FREDK. HAYNES, K. E. PEMBLETON. 

